‘Respect the ranks’: Yadi responds to Contreras

ST. LOUIS — Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina appears to be taking exception to recent comments from Cubs catcher Willson Contreras about how he plans to be a better backstop than perennial All-Stars Molina and Buster Posey.

“In my mind, I want to be the best catcher in the game for a long time — like it was with Yadier Molina, like it is with Buster Posey,” Contreras told the Chicago Sun-Times at the Cubs Convention over the weekend. “I used to watch a lot of those guys, but now I’m watching myself because I know that I’m going to be better than them. That’s my plan. That’s my [mindset].”

That sentiment made it back to Molina, who reacted on Instagram by posting a photo of himself alongside Posey and Salvador Perez from the 2016 All-Star Game. Below it, he wrote: “Respeten los rangos NOVATOS!! aqui con los q si han probao que son los duros!!”

That loosely translates to “respect the ranks” of those who have proven themselves.

Molina has not hesitated to use Instagram to express his displeasure before. Last summer, he took to the social media site to correct manager Mike Matheny’s assertion that Molina was tired.

Contreras, who made his Major League debut in 2016, should have at least three more years to go head-to-head in the National League Central against Molina — who plans to retire after the 2020 season. Contreras has yet to make an All-Star roster, while Molina has been on eight in his 14-year career.

The Cubs and Cardinals will meet for the first time this season on April 16 at Wrigley Field.